NORCROSS, Ga. -

In his 10 years as president and chief executive officer with J.D. Power, Finbarr O’Neill helped lead the company through a time of expansion into data and analytics, as well as the integration of acquisitions such as the NADA Used Car Guide and the used car pricing consumer website, National Appraisal Guides.

Now, with the announcement that Larry Dorfman has decided to step down after 35 years as chairman and chief executive officer of APCO Holdings, LLC to assume a role as a senior adviser to the company, O’Neill will succeed Dorfman.

As new chairman and chief executive officer at APCO, O’Neill will focus on operational effectiveness and strategy to strengthen APCO’s position in providing vehicle service contracts, ancillary products and administrative services.

APCO Holdings, LLC is known for its brands EasyCare, GWC Warranty, SAVY, Covideo and MotorTrend Certified Vehicles. The brands serve the automotive retail industry through franchised dealers, independent dealers, OEMs and other distribution channels.

In his past position as chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America, O’Neill helped lead a brand turnaround, and he also served as chief executive officer for Mitsubishi North America and Reynolds & Reynolds.

Dorfman said in a news release that O’Neill “has a proven track record as a CEO in large companies in the automotive business.”

“He is already a part of our team and knows our company, so he is well positioned to serve as a catalyst to help take APCO to next level and that is exactly what we intend to do. As we grow, we intend to continue to be innovators and leaders in our sector of the industry while maintaining our claims and customer service excellence. To meet these expectations while managing our growth, we needed a person like Fin who understands the needs of the industry and unique culture we have built for our employees.”

“I’m excited to accept the baton in this time of great change in the automotive business,” O’Neill said. "It’s especially exciting to be with a team devoted to helping dealers navigate these changes. Consumer behaviors are driving tremendous change, not only in their digital shopping habits but in their desire to limit risk across their lives. There is a real opportunity to meet their need to ensure against unexpected outlays in connection with vehicle ownership.”